Guatemala Urban Population
Urban population as % of total SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS
Guatemala's urban population was 56.31% in 2025, ranked 138th globally. This represents a 0.6% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
Guatemala's urban population stood at 56.31% in 2025, a rise of +0.35% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 56.31% by 2025. Guatemala ranked 138th globally.
Guatemala’s urban population share has risen steadily from 31.85 percent in 1960 to 56.31 percent in 2025, the highest level recorded over the 66‑year series and placing the country 138th globally. The increase reflects sustained rural‑to‑urban migration driven by expanding service sectors, infrastructure projects, and demographic growth in major cities such as Guatemala City and Quetzaltenango. The pace of urbanisation accelerated after the 1990s, when economic reforms and improved road networks lowered migration costs, and it now mirrors the levels of peers such as Senegal (56.58 percent) and Liberia (56.07 percent). While the urban share remains below the regional average for Latin America, the continued concentration of employment and education opportunities in urban centres suggests the proportion will likely edge higher, unless countervailing policies promote rural development or curb city‑area expansion.
Data & projection
| Year | Urban Population | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 57.01% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 56.66% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 56.31% | - | - |
| 2025 | 56.31% | +0.35% | #138 |
| 2024 | 55.95% | +0.35% | #80 |
| 2023 | 55.61% | +0.35% | #80 |
| 2022 | 55.26% | +0.35% | #80 |
| 2021 | 54.90% | +0.36% | #80 |
| 2020 | 54.55% | +0.36% | #80 |
| 2019 | 54.19% | +0.34% | #80 |
| 2018 | 53.85% | +0.05% | #79 |
| 2017 | 53.80% | +0.14% | #81 |
| 2016 | 53.66% | +0.22% | #82 |
| 2015 | 53.44% | +0.30% | #81 |
| 2014 | 53.15% | +0.36% | #83 |
| 2013 | 52.78% | +0.43% | #83 |
| 2012 | 52.35% | +0.49% | #83 |
| 2011 | 51.87% | +0.54% | #83 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Guatemala matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw urban population improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Guatemala's urban population was 56.31% in 2025. Ranked 138th globally. This represents a 0.6% increase from the previous year.
Guatemala's urban population peaked at 56.31% in 2025.
The lowest urban population in Guatemala was 31.85% in 1960.
Guatemala ranks 138th globally in urban population as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Guatemala's urban population is projected to reach 56.31% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The urban population of Guatemala in 2025 was 56.31%. This ranks 138th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_guatemala_urban-population,
title = {Guatemala Urban Population},
url = {https://historysaid.com/guatemala/urban-population/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}